The Forensic Sciences Command is a part of the Division of Forensic Services, and administers the forensic laboratory system in Illinois. There are six operational laboratories located throughout the state, each responsible for the analysis and evaluation of evidence. The Forensic Sciences Command considers applicants for the positions of Forensic Scientist Trainee and State Police Evidence Technician (SPET).CMS 100 (right click to save-as)

If you have questions about the hiring process or are unable to open the CMS 100, please visit the CMS website athttp://work.illinois.gov.

Forensic Scientist Trainee

General Information

Requires an undergraduate degree in forensic science or one
of the natural sciences. Commonly recognized natural sciences include college/university majors in disciplines such as agricultural science, animal science, biochemistry, biology, botany, chemistry, geology, medical technology, physics, preliminary medicine, and zoology. This is not a list of all natural sciences.
Trainees are paid while learning their new profession. For monthly salaries of Trainees click here. The correct salary plan ends in the letter 'B.'

Forensic scientist trainees receive comprehensive instruction in the use of the most advanced science, technology, and procedures for analyzing evidence. The length of training programs vary with the forensic disciplines. The length of a person's training will depend on their ability to progress through the program; however, average training times tend to be:

Under normal procedures if there are no major quality issues, the trainee will be promoted to a Forensic Scientist I after the successful completion of their training program.

As a trainee, you will:

receive work assignments designed to develop knowledge, understanding, and technical skills related to one of the specialty areas

receive instruction and demonstrate proficiency in the various examinations, techniques, and instrumentation used in the assigned specialty area

receive instruction in courtroom procedures and courtroom demeanor, and participate in mock trials

Becoming a Trainee

Illinois residents have preference for this position.This means applicants from Illinois will be considered before out-of-state applicants.

You must be willing to travel to or relocate to the assigned training laboratory

At the completion of your training program, you must be willing to travel to or relocate to your assigned operational laboratory.

Steps Involved From Application to Employment:

Applying by mail:

Mail your application to the State of Illinois, Department of Central Management Services (CMS) using the address on the application.

CMS will review your forms to verify your eligibility. You will receive a letter from CMS telling you if you are eligible to take the pre-employment examination.

Contact a CMS test site and arrange to take the examination that will qualify you to be invited for an interview.

Applying in person:

Take your completed application to a CMS Assessment Center. A link to their website, with the addresses of the centers, is on the last page of the application.

CMS will review your application and determine if you are eligible to take the pre-employment examination. If you are eligible, you will be able to take the test immediately.

After you take the examination, CMS test staff will evaluate your test and assign a grade of "A", "B", "C", or "Not Qualified".

Prior to conducting interviews, the ISP will ask CMS for a list of "A" grade applicants. If your name is on this list, the ISP may mail you an invitation to interview.

If you are one of the top candidates after the interview, the ISP will make a conditional job offer and ask you to submit to a background investigation, which may include a polygraph examination. This is an iterative process, as candidates are no longer interested or eligible, additional conditional offers are extended.

Upon successfully completing a background investigation, you may begin employment as a Forensic Scientist Trainee.

Often, there are far more qualified candidates than available positions. Veterans and Illinois residents receive hiring preferences over other candidates.

If you have questions about the hiring process or are unable to open the CMS 100, please visit the CMS website athttp://work.illinois.gov.

To be sure the Department of Central Management Services will grade your application properly, the ISP recommends you fill in specific answers as follows:

Position Title:

Forensic Scientist Trainee

County Choice:

(leave blank)*

Cook/Zone:

(leave blank)

Availability:

A

Work History

Complete from age 18 (if you were in high school at age 18, please note name of high school

Education Report:

Complete in full

*Under county choice, leave the box empty. After you print out the application, write in "Statewide" as the primary choice, with no secondary choice.

You must submit a separate application for each option.

Be sure to sign each application in the appropriate space in the Signatures Section at the bottom of page 1. All applications, both originals and photocopies, must be signed in original ink, i.e. you must not photocopy your signature. Only high quality photocopies will be accepted. Remember to keep a copy for your own records.

Minimum training and experience: Requires a Bachelor's degree in natural science or forensic science including a minimum of 20 semester hours of coursework in chemistry, with a total of 60 semester hours of coursework in natural science.

Option C:

Biology and DNA Laboratory Disciplines

Minimum training and experience: Requires a Bachelor's degree in natural science or forensic science including a total of 9 semester hours in the three DNA class requirements of genetics, biochemistry and molecular biology and a total of 60 semester hours of coursework in natural science.

In order to satisfy the course requirement, the subject (genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry) must be the primary component (greater than half of the lectures must be on the specific subject) of the class being considered. Additionally, any given class can only count for one of the three required courses. Listed below are the topics that must be included in each class in order for it to count as the required course.

If you have questions about the hiring process or are unable to open the CMS 100, please visit the CMS website at http://work.illinois.gov.

A separate application must be submitted for each title and/or county

To be sure the Department of Central Management Services will grade your application properly, the ISP recommends you fill in specific answers as follows:

Position Title:

State Police Evidence Technician I or II

County Choice:

(see map of laboratory locations)

Cook/Zone:

For Cook County Only, select one of options listed

Availability:

A

Work History:

Complete from age 18 (if you were in high school at age 18, please note name of high school

Education Report:

Complete in full

Be sure to sign each application in the appropriate space in the Signatures Section at the bottom of page 1. All applications, both originals and photocopies, must be signed in original ink, i.e. you must not photocopy your signature.Only high quality photocopies will be accepted. Remember to keep a copy for your own records.